Card-shuffler.



A. GYSL, DENTAL ARTIGULMOR.v APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1911. i v 1,941 22?@ Patented Got. 15, 1912.

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C. T. HALL.

l GARD SHUPFLBR.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 2z, 1911.

Patented 001.15, 191.2.`

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. C. T. HALL.

GARD SHUFFLER. APPLICATION FILED JULY Z2, 1911.

1,041,271 Patented 0ct.15,.1`912.

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CHARLES T. HALL, OF BUFFALO, INEW YORK.

CARD-SHUEFEER.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the coun-ty of Erie and State of New York, have invented new land useful Improvements in Card-Shuiilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for' shufliing cards and has the object to produce a machine for this purpose which will permit of thoroughly and rapidly shufling a deck of cards and which is compact and comparatively inexpensive in construction.

In thef accompanying drawings consisting of 4; sheets: Figure l is a side elevation of my improved cardv shuliiing lmachine viewed from the right hand side thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same viewed from the left hand side thereof. Fig. '3 is a vertical longitudinal. section of the machine. F ig. 4 is a cross section in line H, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation, ofthe machine. Fig. 6 is a cross section in the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 8.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The main frame or stationary part of the machine which supports the* working parts may be variously constructed but preferably `comprises two upright longitudinal side walls 1, l and cross pieces 2 connecting the upper, lower and intermediate parts of the side walls. In the upper part of this frame are arranged twoinclined card receiving` pockets, chutes or chambers ,3, these pockl ets being mounted one above the other and each pocket being closed on its upper, lower and lateral longitudinal sides while its upper and lower ends are open so as to form an inlet at the upper end of each receiving pocket through which cards may be introduced into the same and an outlet at the lower end of each of these pockets through which the cards are discharged therefrom. These supply pockets 'diverge from their upper inlet to their lower outlet ends andthe opposing bottom of the upper supply pocketand the top of the companion lower supply pocket are united at their upper edges so that this bottom and top form a wedge 5 which operates to divide a pack of cards into two piles upon pushing cards downwardly by hand into the inlet ends of the supply pockets and thereby cause one pile .to enter the lowersupply pocket and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led u1`y 22, 1911.

Patented Oct. 15, 1912. Serial No. 639,892.

the lotherpile to enter the upper supply pocket. Means are provided, for obstructing the outlets of these supply pockets which means are so constructed that the obstruction of these outlets is gradually removed so as to permit cards to escape successively from both supply pockets in two streams whichunite below the outlets of the supply pockets and form the rst mixture of the cards. Although various meansmay be employed for thus gradually discharging the cards from`the upper and lower supply pockets the means shownin the drawings are suit-able and are constructed as follows:

6, 7 represent upper and lower gates which extend vertically across the outlets -of the i upper and lower supply pockets and which are mounted by means of rock arms 8, 9 on horizontal rock shafts 10, 1l which are journaledin suitable bearings on the side walls of the main frame. 'The shaft l0 and arm 8 of the gate 6 of the upper supply pocket are arranged between the upper and lower pockets while the transverse shaft 11 and the rock arm 9 of the lower gate 7 are arranged below the lower supply pocket. The rock shafts 10,11 are normally held in the position in which their gates 6, 7 are elevated and projected across the path of the cards in the supply pockets by means of shifting arms l2, 13 projecting rearwardly from these shafts and provided with weights,-

14, 15, as shown in Figs. l, 3 and 6. The opening of the gates 6, 7 is effected by means of two camsl, 17 one of which engages with the shifting arm of the upper gate and the other with the shifting arm of the lower gate. Each of these cams is preferably constructed of volute form and has its lowest point connected with its highest point by means of an abrupt face. By this means each of these cams upon beginning its rotary movement while its lowest part engages with the shifting arm of its companion gate gradually causes this gate to be moved downwardly from the outlet of the respective supply pocket and entirely clears this outlet by the time this cam has made a complete rotation, thereby permitting all of the cards to escape from the pocket. As the cam during its continued rotation passes with its highest part beyond the shifting arm the latter drops by gravity from the highest part of this cam to the lowest part thereof ,owing to the weight on this arm, whereby the gate associated with this shifting arm los is elevated so as to again project across the outlet of the respective supply pocket and thereby confine therein any cards which may be placed into the same. The. cam 1G and rock arm 12 are preferably arranged on the outer side of the right hand wall of the frame while the cam 1.7 and shifting arm 13 of the lower Gate are preferably arranged between the si e walls of the frame, as shown in thc drawings. The cams 1G, 17 are mounted on transverse shafts 18, 1t" journaled in bearings on the main frame and these shafts are caused to turn together, preferably by means of a belt 20. passing around pulleys 2L 22 arranged on the correspondingr ends of these shafts on the outer side of the left hand wall of the frame or casing. The turning of these shafts may be effected either manually or by power by any suitable means. As shown, these shafts may .be turned manually by means of a hand crank 23y applied to the left hand end of the shaft 18, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6.

The timing of the mechanism which operates theupper and lower gate of the supply pockets may be varied as desired, for in-V stance, the upper and lower gates may be opened at the same rate by their cams or one of these gates may b opened faster than the other so as to secure a thorough mixture of the cards as they issue from the outlets of the supply pockets.

24 represents a primary mixing chamber or pocket which is mounted upon the main frame of the machine and which has an inlet at its upper end which is arranged below the out-lets of the upper and lower supply pockets and a lower outlet through which the cards are discharged therefrom. The outlet of this primary mixing chamber or pocket is controlled by a vertically' movable gate 25 which is carried by the front end of a .roch arm 26 which is arranged below the primary mixing chamber Aand secured at. its rear end to a rock shaft 27 journaled on the main frame below the primary mixing chamber, a shifting arm 28 projecting `rearwardly from the rock shaft 27 and provided with a weight 29 which normally tends to turn the rock shaft 27 and rock arm 28 in the direction for bringing the vate 25 across the outlet of the primary mixlng chamber, and a cam 30 preferably of' volute form engaging with the rear shiftin arm 28 and journaled on the side frames o' tho machine. The face of this cam is so constructed that when its 4lowest part engages With the shifting arm 28 the Weight. 29 turns the rock shaft 27 in a direction in which the gate 25 crosses the outlet of the primary mlxing pocket but as this cam turns forwardly its ,face gradually raises the rear arm 28 and lowers the front arm 26, thereby causing the outletof the primary mixing chamber to be gradually un- Vcovered and permit the cards to gradually escape downwardly therefrom. The cam 30 is mounted on a transverse shaft 31 journaled in bearings on the main frame and the same is turned preferably by means of a belt 32 passing around pulleys 33, 34 on the shafts "19, 31, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. As the cards issue from the. primary mixing pocket the same are deposited one after the other in a secondary mixing pocket- 35 which is constructed substantially like the primary mi Xing pocket and provided with an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at its lower end. As the cards issue successively from the outlet of the primary mixing pocket the same are discharged successively ina pile on the bottom of the secondary mixing chamber, whereby the cards are caused to be mixed the second time. The discharge of the cards from the second mixingv chamber is controlled by a vertically movable gate 36 whichj is adapted to obstruct the outlet of this pocket more or less. This gate is mounted on the front end of a rock arm 37 which is mounted on a transverse shaft 38 journaled in bearings on the adjacent part of the main frame. 39 represents a shifting arm projecting rearwardly from the rock shaft 38 and provided with a weight 40 whereby this arm and the parts associated therewith are normally turned in a direction in which the gate 36 fully obstructs the out-- let of the secondary mixing pocket.

ll1 represents a cam of vvolute form which engages the shifting arm 39 and turns the same in a direction for gradually withdrawing the gate 36 from the outlet of the secondary mixing pocket. lVhen the low part of this cam bears against the shifting arm 39 the gate 36 fully obstructs the outlet of the mixing chamber and as this cam turns forwardly this gate is gradually lowered un- I til the highest part of this cam engages with this shifting arm at which time this gate is wholly withdrawn from the outlet of the secondary mixing pocket and all the cards therein are permitted todischarge from the same. 'As the high part of the. cam 41 passes beyond' the shifting arm 39 the weight 40 depresses this shifting arm into engagement with the lowest part thereof, thereby closing the outlet of the secondary mixing pocket. The cam 41 is mounted on a transverse shaft 42 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the mam frame and 1s driven by means of a belt 43 passing around pulleys 44, 45 on the shafts 31, 42, as shown in Fi 2, 5 and 6. As the cards issue successive y from the outlet of the secondary rnlxmg pocket they drop into a box 0r drawer 46 which is removably mounted on the lower part. of the frame and which has an angular bottom so that the cards are stacked in the same successively and in a position to be re# moved by hand ready for dealing.

`40 has 'been found in practice. that upon in- In using this machine a deck of cards is pushed against the front edge of the wedge 5 formed by the walls between the upper and lower supply pockets while the gates of these pockets are closed, whereby the deck is divided into two groupswhich enter the two supply pockets respectively and are prevented from escaping therefrom by the gates thereof. At this time the gates of both the primary and secondary mixing pockets are also closed. Upon now turning the crank so as to rotate the several cams in the direction of the arrows the gates of both the upper and lower supply pockets will be gradually opened thereby permitting the cards to slide successively from the tops of the stacks in bot-h of these pockets at the same ,time and become mixed as they fall into the first mixing pocket. When about one third of the deck of cards has been transferred from the two supply pockets to 'the upper or primary mixing pocket the gate 'at the out-let of this last mentioned pocket also begins to open so as to permit the cards to discharge successively therefrom into the lower`or secondary mixing pocket. After some of the cards have. accumulated in the lower' mixing pocket the gate at the outlet of this lastmentione'd pocket also begins to open, thereby permitting the cards to discharge successively therefrom into the gathering box.

ln this manner the cards are lirst shuled in passing from the supply pockets or chutes to the primary mixing pocket and again as they pass to the secondary mixing pocket and to the gathering box.- The inclination of the several/pockets is such as to cause the cards to slide freely by gravity from one pocket to the next lower whenever the gates are in a position to release the cards. It

clining the pockets at an angle of 60 the cards slide fro'm one pocket to another perfectly free and suiciently rapid for alll practical purposes.

This machine is very simple in its construction, it has no parts which are delicate and liable to get out of order and it insures thorough shuffling of the cards so that every one ofathe players will receive a square deal.

I claim as my invention:

1. A card shutller comprising av pair of supply pockets arranged one above the other and separated from each other by an inter* vening space and each having an inlet at one end and an outlet at its opposite end, upper and lower independently operable gates controlling the outlets of said pockets, an upper operating shaft arranged transversely in the space between the upper and lower pockets and having an upper arm which carries the upper gate, and a lower operating `shaft arranged below the lower pocket and having a lower arm whichI carries said lower ate. g 2. A card shufller comprising a pair of inclined supply pockets arranged one above the other and adapted to receive two parts of a deck of cards, respectively, and each having an outlet at; its lower end, gates controlling said outlet, and means for operating said gates independently of each other.

3. A card shuftler comprising two inclined supply pockets arranged one above the other and adapt-ed to receive cards and each pro- .vided at its lower.;` end with an outlet, independently voperable ates controlling said outlets, an inclined mixing pocket having an inlet at its upper end for receiving the cards from said supply pockets and an outlet at its lower end for discharging the cards therefrom, a. gate for controlling the outlet of the mixing pocket, and means for gradually withdrawmg the several gates from their respective outlets.

Witness' my hand this-20th day of July, 1911.

' CHARLES T. HALL.

Witnesses:

-Timo. L. PorP, ANNA HEIGIS. 

